I.V. sleeve

ABSTRACT

The nature of the invention is to thoroughly compress the entire length and circumference of a medical site, limb, torso, neck, arm and leg with a tubular elastic sleeve that has openings at both ends. The I.V. Sleeve has bands of compressed elastic reinforcement about its circumference and equidistant throughout its entire length. The purposes of the bands are to reinforce the I.V. Sleeve and protect the compressed integrity of the remainder of the site and sleeve in the event of puncture or rupture of the sleeve in another section. For distribution and packaging it is rolled upon itself like an elastic ring. During use the entire elastic ring is stretched over any obstruction and onto the medical site where it is then unrolled onto the site becoming a skin tight protective barrier. The I.V. sleeve allows for its material to be manufactured with both impregnable and pregnable materials, man made and natural.

TITLE OF INVENTION

[0001] An open ended elasticized device, tubular in shape, designed to encompass, protect, compress site and or deliver medication to an extremity, appendage or thorax or animal. U.S. Pat. Documents 3416518 Dec., 1968 Samuels 602/3.  5143762 Sep., 1992 Ho 128/846. 5228851 Jul., 1993 Burton 604/171. 5592953 Jan., 1997 Delao 602/3.  2169203 Aug., 1939 Hinchliff 66/178. 2704069 Mar., 1955 Donelan 128/881. 4016027 Apr., 1977 Kintanar  2/159. 4133624 Jan., 1979 Heavner et al. 425/275. 4287608 Sep., 1981 Meyer  2/16. 4315504 Feb., 1982 Drennan 128/881. 4646727 Mar., 1987 Chambers 128/882. 4856112 Aug., 1989 Effle  2/59. 4926851 May., 1990 Bulley 128/157. 4971233 Nov., 1990 Keenan 223/111. 4991593 Feb., 1991 LeVahn 128/856. 5016648 May., 1991 Brown 128/879. 5063919 Nov., 1991 Silverberg 602/3. 5187813 Feb., 1993 Klein  2/16. 5357633 Oct., 1994 Rael  2/16.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of Invention

[0003] The invention relates to a open ended elasticized device, tubular in shape, designed to compress, encompass, protect, retain, site and or deliver medication to an extremity or thorax of a human or animal.

[0004] 2. Description of Prior Art

[0005] There have been many previous devices for the protection of extremities, appendages or thorax for humans or animals in protecting articles and site from contamination or for preventing water, dirt or hazardous articles from contaminating the site. The suggestion of a single closed-ended bag, glove like device and open-ended tubular device with sealable or elasticized ends presently exists with all of the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,357,633, 5,187,813, 5,063,919, 5,016,648, 4,991,593, 4,971,233, 4,926,851, 4,856,112, 4,646,727, 4,315,504, 4,287,608, 4,133,624, 4,016,027, 2,704,069, 2,169,203, 5,592,953, 5,228,851, 5,143,762, 3,416,518. Each of the prior art products although being able to protect extremities from contamination are flawed and limited in their design. The various prior art configurations do nothing to fully compress the site. Compression of the medical site is required to facilitate holding an Intra Venous item, compressing the wound in the event of bleeding, delivery of medication via impregnation to the I.V. Sleeve itself. Compression throughout the entire extremity, thorax and site is as well required in the event of product failure. On all prior art, failure of an elasticized end or puncture to the product would render such product inoperable and useless. The I.V. Sleeve is designed to maintain its integrity even in the event of a tear or puncture.

[0006] In addition the I.V. Sleeve is designed to facilitate the manufacturing and field use process by using a simple pre-existing and time proven manufacturing process that not only pre packages and protects the I.V. Sleeve from contamination, but allows it to be carried in to the field in a disposable pack like that of a Handy-Wipe or condom.

[0007] Prior art product have as well failed to maintain pace with modern medicine. All prior art fails to deliver medication to the site. The I.V. Sleeves ability to fit skin tight and its ability to be manufactured using a vast number or different materials allows it to be impregnated with medication so that such medication can be delivered through skin absorption. Unlike prior art product the I.V. Sleeve's ability to be manufactured from skin type products allows for exceptional seamless coverage and medication in the event of skin grafts required for large areas.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The object of the invention is to have field usable cost effective product that can fully protect an extremity, appendage and thorax during pre and post medical procedures. The I.V. Sleeve is used for humans and animals. It compresses the entire wound or medical site to maintain the integrity of the procedure and to deliver medication when desired.

[0009] The I.V. Sleeve is manufactured with materials that fit the environmental parameters dictated by the wound or medical procedure in itself. In the event of grafts, the I.V. Sleeve is manufactured from skin. It can be waterproof yet breathable and maintains it's anti contaminant integrity even in the event of puncture or tear. Its elasticity allows for ability to protect a human thorax as well as a leg, arm or finger.

BRIEF DISCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010]FIG. 1 is an elasticized tub with openings at both ends.

DETAILED DISTCRIPTION OF INVENTION

[0011] The invention relates to a skintight form fitting tubular elastic material sleeve with openings at both ends for fitment onto appendages, extremities, neck or thorax for achieving complete site compression, protection, and for maintenance of integrity of such medical site, while as well delivering medication impregnated in the elastic material, and serving as the epidermal layer of a skin graph.

[0012] Whereas the I.V. Sleeve is manufactured from a group of elastic, pliable and expandable materials singularly and in combination such as rubber, latex, silicone, Gore-Tex, epidermal tissue, smooth muscle tissue, plastic and plastic components.

[0013] The I.V. Sleeve is cylindrical in shape with openings at both ends. Within 5 cm to 60 cm in length (FIG. 1), 2.5 cm to 80 cm in diameter (FIG. 1A) and 1 mm to 2 mm in thickness for the purpose of surrounding skintight, compressing skintight, holding and protecting the medical site of different size appendages, neck and thorax. The fit and materials in the I.V. Sleeve are designed to form a resilient elasticized skintight cover over the medical site.

[0014] The I.V. Sleeve has multiple compression means contained throughout its circumference in the form of elastic bands that double the thickness and compression around the site without inhibiting the flow of circulation. The bands seamlessly manufactured into the sleeve of the same material help to maintain the integrity of the medical site and that of the I.V. Sleeve by adding 1 mm to 2 mm thick elastic material bands equidistant at 2.5 cm from each other throughout the entire length of the I.V. Sleeve (FIG. 1B). Made from the same material as the I.V. Sleeve the elastic bands circumference will be equal to the circumference of the body of the I.V. Sleeve (a ring around a tube) as to not disturb the comfort of the wearer yet enabling the I.V. Sleeve to increase its compression holding ability. The bands themselves are 2 mm to 3 mm wide as represented in FIG. 1B. The material maintains enough elasticity to be stretched over extremity (foot, hand, and head) in order to reach the site and still be able to achieve complete site compression, protection and integrity while restricting movement of intravenous equipment.

[0015] In storage the I.V. Sleeve is outwardly rolled upon itself to form a lightweight elastic ring. Method of installation is that of first securing medical site with intravenous medical procedures, cleaning, medications etc. Then stretching the elastic ring over extremity and onto the site to be protected. You then unroll the I.V. Sleeve out from itself and onto and over the medical site. This finalizes the installation process. 

What is claimed and desired to be secured by the United States letter patent is:
 1. A stretchable apparatus comprising of: an elasticized tube open at both ends configured to have a stretch of at least twice its original length. an elasticized tube open at both ends configured to have a stretch of at least twice its original diameter. an elastic sleeve with a tight fitting configuration around an appendage, extremity or thorax. an elastic sleeve with skintight fitment that compresses the appendages, neck or thorax throughout its length and circumference to prevent the loss of bodily fluids.
 2. Elastic bands of same material that circumvent the stretchable apparatus claim
 1. 3. The elastic bands of claim 2 wherein they are equal to the circumference of stretchable apparatus claim
 1. 4. The elastic bands claim 2 wherein they are separated from each other equidistant along the entire length of elastic apparatus claim
 1. 5. The elastic apparatus of claim 1 wherein the elastic is comprised of latex.
 6. The elastic apparatus of claim 1 wherein the elastic is comprised of silicone.
 7. The elastic apparatus of claim 1 wherein the elastic is comprised of plastic and plastic derivatives.
 8. The elastic apparatus of claim 1 wherein the elastic is comprised of latex, silicone, plastic, plastic derivatives singularly and in any combination of each other.
 9. The elastic apparatus of claim 1 wherein the elastic is comprised of epidermal tissue.
 10. The elastic apparatus of claim 1 wherein the elastic is comprised of smooth muscle tissue.
 11. The elastic apparatus of claim 1 wherein the elastic is comprised of animal tissue.
 12. The elastic apparatus of claim 1 wherein the elastic is comprised of epidermal tissue, smooth muscle tissue, animal tissue singularly or in any combination of each other.
 13. The elastic apparatus of claim 1 wherein the elastic is comprised of a combination of claim 8 and claim
 12. 14. The elastic apparatus of claim 1 wherein the elastic is comprised of an elastic breathable material.
 15. The elastic apparatus of claim 1 wherein the elastic is comprised of material and thickness allowing transparency for visual verification and maintenance of medical site.
 16. Claim 12 wherein the apparatus manufacturing process allows such apparatus to be rolled upon itself like a condom. 